Tongue Thrust Therapy in Menlo Park, CA
Build Stronger Habits for Eating, Swallowing, and Orofacial Growth
Tongue thrust is more than just a habit: it can affect the way you eat, breathe and sleep. At Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services, we use personalized therapy to help you reestablish appropriate tongue and jaw movements to improve how you eat, breath and function each day.
Whether you’re a parent concerned about your child’s orofacial development or someone who’s been managing these issues for years, our goal is the same: to promote healthy oral habits for improved eating, breathing and sleep.
What Is Tongue Thrust?
Tongue thrust happens when the tongue pushes forward between or against the teeth during swallowing or at rest. It can affect how you breathe, how your teeth align, and how your mouth functions overall. In children, it may lead to altered facial growth and prolonged orthodontia; in adults, it can contribute to jaw discomfort and orthodontic relapse and sleep challenges. Our therapists work closely with you or your child to become aware of tongue placement, strengthen mouth muscles, and retrain tongue thrust patterns that affect swallowing, dentition and breathing. Using targeted exercises and personalized strategies, we help instill healthier habits for long-term results.
Common Causes of Tongue Thrust
Several factors can contribute to tongue thrust, including:
- Prolonged pacifier or thumb-sucking habits
- Tongue tie
- Chronic mouth breathing or nasal congestion
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Neurological or developmental conditions
- Habitual patterns carried into later childhood or adolescence
We take the time to understand each patient’s history and tailor therapy to fit individual needs.
How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Helps with Tongue Thrust
We use proven, evidence-based techniques to help children and adults learn new oral muscle patterns. Our approach builds strength, awareness, and control over tongue and mouth movements, helping you achieve lasting results. Treatment may include:
- Exercises to improve tongue posture
- Breathing and swallowing techniques
- Myofunctional strategies for long-term success
- Coordination with orthodontists, ENTs, orthodontists or pediatricians, when needed
Why Choose Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services for Tongue Thrust Therapy
Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services has been helping people of all ages build strong oral motor habits since 1978. Our therapists are trained in specialized techniques like TalkTools, PROMPT, and other evidence-based practices so we can address a wide range of speech, feeding and oral motor difficulties.
Tongue thrust is highly treatable, and the earlier it’s identified, the better the long-term outcomes. We’re known throughout the Bay Area for our compassionate care and excellent success rates in treating oral function challenges. Whether the signs of tongue thrust are just beginning to show or have been present for some time, we can step in at any stage and work together to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. While most cases are addressed in childhood, successful treatment is possible at any stage of life. It’s never too late to adopt healthier habits.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
Whether you’ve been managing tongue thrust for years or are just starting to notice signs in your child, now is a great time to seek treatment. Contact Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services today to schedule an appointment at our Menlo Park location. Our speech-language pathologists will guide you through the next steps and start you or your child on your orofacial myofunctional journey.